title: Sorafenib and thyroid cancer.
abstract: Sorafenib (Nexavar) is a multikinase inhibitor, which has demonstrated both anti-proliferative and anti-angiogenic properties in vitro and in vivo, inhibiting the activity of targets present in the tumor cell [c-RAF (proto-oncogene serine/threonine-protein kinase), BRAF, (V600E)BRAF, c-KIT, and FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3] and in tumor vessels (c-RAF, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3, and platelet-derived growth factor receptor β). For several years, sorafenib has been approved for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma and advanced renal cell carcinoma. After previous studies showing that sorafenib was able to inhibit oncogenic RET mutants, (V600E)BRAF, and angiogenesis and growth of orthotopic anaplastic thyroid cancer xenografts in nude mice, some clinical trials demonstrated the effectiveness of sorafenib in advanced thyroid cancer. Currently, the evaluation of the clinical safety and efficacy of sorafenib for the treatment of advanced thyroid cancer is ongoing. This article reviews the anti-neoplastic effect of sorafenib in thyroid cancer. Several completed (or ongoing) studies have evaluated the long-term efficacy and tolerability of sorafenib in patients with papillary and medullary aggressive thyroid cancer. The results suggest that sorafenib is a promising therapeutic option in patients with advanced thyroid cancer that is not responsive to traditional therapeutic strategies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Savi, 10, 56126, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Poupak
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fallahi
authors.forename: Silvia Martina
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Santini
authors.forename: Alda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Corrado
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Materazzi
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ulisse
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Miccoli
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Antonelli
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D018278:Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009536:Niacinamide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010671:Phenylurea Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D000077157:Sorafenib; D000077273:Thyroid Cancer, Papillary; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; C000715470:MAS1 protein, human; D010671:Phenylurea Compounds; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D009536:Niacinamide; D000077157:Sorafenib